WILMINGTON — For the first time in years the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners will have a majority of Democrats serving the people of the county. The 2018 general election saw two county commissioners up for reelection, (D) Rob Zapple and (R) Skip Watkins.
Four candidates were vying for the two spots and incumbent Zapple maintained his seat on the board with 43,082 votes, the most of any candidate. Watkins, however, was unseated by Democrat Julia Olsen-Boseman, a former county commissioner and state senator with 42,952 compared to Watkins’ 41,057 and Republican candidate Eric Lytle’s 36,495 votes.
For Zapple, the change of party control on the board can likely be attributed to residents frustrations with the way the county has grown over the last five or so years.
While there has been a pattern of growth for more time than that, several large projects (mostly within the City of Wilmington, he admitted) have been approved much to the dismay of many residents.
Zapple said the changing of the tide can likely be traced to these approvals coupled with the influx of new residents. Residents who have moved to the county over the past several years and become disenchanted with the way local leaders have been running things in their new found home. From traffic concerns to overdevelopment woes, it’s clear residents are searching for a change — even if that means not voting a straight party ballot, according to Zapple/
So what does the new change mean for residents? Only time will tell, but it could spell changes with head leadership at the county level. Each year commissioners vote on a new chairman to lead the county, New Hanover County spokeswoman Jessica Loeper said.
Chairman Woody White has served as the head of the board for several years but with a majority of Democrats serving on the board, it is likely that role will be bestowed on someone new.
Michael Praats can be reached at Michael.P@Localvoicemedia.com
